U.S. patent number 6,911,022 [Application Number 09/839,741] was granted by the patent office on 2005-06-28 for sanitary napkin having a wipe article associated therewith.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Dennis Allen Darby, Christine Gail Steger.
United States Patent |
6,911,022 |
Steger , et al. |
June 28, 2005 |
Sanitary napkin having a wipe article associated therewith
Abstract
An absorbent article, preferably a sanitary napkin, having a
body-facing side, a garment-facing side, a length, a width, and two
longitudinal side margins. The sanitary napkin has a liquid
pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to the
topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and
the backsheet. A pair of flaps are provided, each flap extending
from a longitudinal side margin and each of the flaps are folded
over the topsheet in a topsheet facing relationship. The flaps are
maintained in the topsheet facing relationship by an enclosed pouch
having a wipe article disposed therein. In a preferred embodiment
the wipe article is a wet wipe. In a further embodiment, the
absorbent article is an individually packaged sanitary napkin
having a releasable wrapper affixed to the backsheet adhesive, and
provided in a tri-folded package.
Inventors: |
Steger; Christine Gail (West
Chester, OH), Darby; Dennis Allen (Cincinnati, OH) |
Assignee: |
The Procter & Gamble
Company (Cincinnati, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
25280520 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/839,741 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/385.05;
604/385.04; 604/385.06; 604/385.201; 604/387 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/84 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/15 (20060101); A61F 013/15 (); A61F
013/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/385.01-385.06,385.14,385.13,385.22,385.24-387,389-396,FOR 103/
;604/FOR 101/ |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reichle; Karin
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick; Matthew P. Johnson;
Kevin C. Bullock; Roddy M.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An absorbent article having a body-faceable side, a
garment-faceable side, a length, a width, two longitudinal side
margins, said absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious
topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet; an
absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
a pair of flaps, each said flap extending from a longitudinal side
margin; each of said flaps being folded over said topsheet in a
topsheet facing relationship; and an enclosed pouch maintaining
said flaps in said topsheet facing relationship, said enclosed
pouch being releasably affixed to said flaps, said enclosed pouch
having a wipe article disposed therein.
2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein each said flap has a
garment faceable portion and attachment means disposed on said
garment faceable portion.
3. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein said attachment means
comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.
4. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said pouch is
hermetically sealed.
5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said wipe article is a
dry wipe.
6. An individually packaged sanitary napkin comprising: a sanitary
napkin having a body-faceable side, a garment-faceable side, a
length, a width, and two longitudinal side margins, said absorbent
article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious
backsheet joined to said topsheet, said backsheet having opposed
inwardly and outwardly oriented faces; an absorbent core positioned
between said topsheet and said backsheet; a pair of flaps, each
said flap extending from a longitudinal side margin; each of said
flaps being folded over said topsheet in a topsheet facing
relationship; an enclosed pouch maintaining said flaps in said
topsheet facing relationship, said enclosed pouch being releasably
affixed to said flaps, said enclosed pouch having a wipe article
disposed therein; and a releasable wrapper releasably affixed to an
adhesive fastener on said outwardly oriented face of said
backsheet, said releasable wrapper having a longitudinal dimension,
a transverse dimension, and inwardly oriented face, an outwardly
oriented face, a pair of longitudinal side edges, a pair of end
edges, and a pair of ends, wherein only said releasable wrapper is
folded about a longitudinal axis adjacent at least one of said
longitudinal edges of said sanitary napkin in a C-fold thereby
wrapping said at least one of said longitudinal edges, and wherein
said sanitary napkin and said releasable wrapper are folded about
two transverse axes which form said wrapper into first, second, and
third trisections.
7. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein each said flap has a
garment faceable portion and attachment means disposed on said
garment faceable portion.
8. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein said attachment means
comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.
9. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said pouch is
hermetically sealed.
10. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said wipe article is
a dry wipe.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to sanitary napkins, and particularly to
sanitary napkins having flaps. More particularly, this invention is
directed to the packaging of such sanitary napkins having a wipe
article associated therewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sanitary napkins having flaps extending outwardly from the
longitudinal side margins are well known in the art. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,876 issued May 20, 1986, to Van Tilburg and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,478 issued Aug. 18, 1987, to Van Tilburg
disclose preferred sanitary napkins with flaps and are incorporated
herein by reference to illustrate particularly preferred flapped
sanitary napkin constructions.
To conserve space during packaging, i.e., the period between
manufacture of the sanitary napkin and its intended first use by
the wearer, the flaps of such sanitary napkins are typically folded
to overlay the backsheet. At the time of the first use by the
wearer, the flaps are usually unfolded to facilitate installation
of the sanitary napkin into the wearer's undergarment. Typically
adhesive, interposed between the backsheet and the flap adhesive
release paper, is used for maintaining the flaps in the folded
disposition prior to the wearer's first use of the sanitary
napkin.
Several attempts have been made to provide alternative means for
maintaining the flaps in the desired disposition prior to first use
of the sanitary napkin by the wearer. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,759,754 issued Jul. 26, 1988, to Korpman discloses an adhesive
tab which can be used for maintaining the flaps in the desired
disposition overlaying the backsheet during packaging. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,701,178 issued Oct. 20, 1987, to Glaug et al. discloses a
sanitary napkin having a single release strip which covers the
centrally located adhesive of the backsheet and over which release
strip the flaps are folded.
One successful alternative to maintaining the flaps in the desired
position prior to first use is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,654
issued Sep. 1, 1998 to Davis et al., which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference. Davis et al. teaches a sanitary napkin
packaged with flaps folded over to the topsheet and a unitary
release strip bridging the adhesive of the flaps. As such, the user
can first place the sanitary napkin in the crotch area of her
undergarment by use of a central adhesive provided. She then simply
peels off the unitary release strip bridging the folded flaps and
folds the flaps back and around the edges of the crotch of her
undergarment.
Not only does the Davis et al. packaging configuration maintain the
flaps in the desired position prior to use, it also maintains the
clean, sanitary condition and appearance of the sanitary napkin's
body contacting sheet. This is important because the user is
typically concerned with such cleanliness. This concern for
cleanliness extends to more than just the sanitary napkin itself.
The user of such a sanitary napkin often finds it necessary or
desirable to clean the area of the anatomy associated with the
wearing of a sanitary napkin. For example, when changing a sanitary
napkin, the user may wish to wipe the vaginal area with a suitable
cleaning implement, such as a cloth, or a wipe article such as a
disposable towelette.
Several attempts have been made at providing a disposable wipe with
a sanitary napkin. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,230 issued Oct.
29, 1996 to Fisher et al., which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein, discloses an individually packaged sanitary
napkin having a cleansing wipe packaged therewith. The wipe can be
packaged in flaps located on various different portions of the
wrapper. However, this configuration has certain drawbacks when the
sanitary napkin is not configured for individual packaging. Also,
the cost of providing such extra wrapper material, as well as the
associated processing can be prohibitive for commercially viable
products.
Other attempts have been made at providing a pre-wrapped moistened
towelette with a sanitary napkin. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,848,572 issued Jul. 18, 1989 to Herrera teaches a towelette
hermetically sealed in an elongate sheath releasably attached to an
impermeable member of the sanitary napkin. However, the
configuration shown requires the addition of significant material
and components be added to the sanitary napkin. Also, the user must
remove and use the wipe prior to placing the sanitary napkin for
use in her undergarment, thereby causing inconvenience, and making
the entire process rather awkward at a time when both ease of use
and discreteness are appreciated.
Because of the sensitive nature of changing sanitary napkins, often
under less than ideal circumstances, such as in public restrooms,
it is desirable to provide a wipe for use with a sanitary napkin
that is simple and convenient to use.
Furthermore, it is desirable to provide the wipe for use with a
sanitary napkin in a commercially viable manner, that is, in a
manner that does not cause the product to be cost prohibitive to
market.
Additionally, it is desirable to provide a sanitary napkin having a
flap disposition which promotes the cleanliness of the topsheet of
the sanitary napkin during packaging and handling by the wearer
prior to the first use of the sanitary napkin, and provides means
for the user to conveniently and easily use a wipe article, if
desired.
Finally, it is desirable to provide a convenient means for
manipulating the flaps from the packaged arrangement to the
disposition which the flaps will be used during wear, and to be
provided with a vaginal wipe, which does not inconvenience the user
by introducing additional time-consuming steps.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An absorbent article is disclosed. The absorbent article is
preferably a sanitary napkin having a body-facing side, a
garment-facing side, a length, a width, and two longitudinal side
margins. The sanitary napkin comprises a liquid pervious topsheet,
a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an
absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and said backsheet.
A pair of flaps are provided, each flap extending from a
longitudinal side margin and each of the flaps are folded over the
topsheet in a topsheet facing relationship. Means for maintaining
the flaps in the topsheet facing relationship have a wipe article
associated therewith. In a preferred embodiment the means for
maintaining the flaps in the topsheet facing relationship comprises
a release strip and the wipe article comprises a wet wipe. In a
further embodiment, the absorbent article is an individually
packaged sanitary napkin having a releasable wrapper affixed to the
backsheet adhesive, and provided in a tri-folded package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the Specification concludes with claims particularly pointing
out and distinctly claiming the present in-vention, it is believed
the invention will be better understood from the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein like parts are given the same reference numeral, analogous
parts are designated with a prime symbol, related parts are
des-ignated by alphabetic characters, adhesive is shown in phantom
and:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view, shown partially in cutaway, of a
sanitary napkin according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a sanitary napkin according to the
present invention having a unitary release strip bridging the
flaps;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of section 3--3 of the sanitary
napkin of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
sanitary napkin of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
sanitary napkin of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view, shown partially in cutaway, of another
embodiment of a sanitary napkin according to the present
invention;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of section 7--7 of the sanitary
napkin of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention in a partially folded configuration; and
FIG. 9 is an perspective view of one embodiment of the present
invention in a fully folded configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, the invention comprises a disposable absorbent
article, particularly a sanitary napkin 20. The sanitary napkin 20
is used to collect vaginal discharges, such as menses, and prevent
soiling of the wearer's clothing by such discharges. The sanitary
napkin 20 features a liquid pervious topsheet 22, a liquid
impervious backsheet 24, an absorbent core 26 intermediate the
topsheet 22 and the backsheet 24 and at least one flap 28 extending
from a longitudinal side margin 30 of the sanitary napkin 20, and
preferably two symmetrically opposite flaps 28, one extending from
each longitudinal side margin 30 of the sanitary napkin 20. The
perimeter of the sanitary napkin 20 is defined by two longitudinal
side margins 30 and two lateral side margins 32.
Associated with the sanitary napkin 20 is a means, such as
adhesive, for releasably affixing the sanitary napkin 20 to the
undergarment of a wearer. Adhesives such as pressure sensitive
adhesives are suitable for this purpose. Numerous other equivalent
means may also be used. For example adhesives which are not
pressure sensitive adhesives, hook-type fasteners such as VELCRO,
selectively activated attachment materials such as those described
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,662,758 and 6,099,940 are also suitable.
Because adhesives are most commonly used as the attachment means
for currently marketed sanitary napkins, the attachment means will
be described in terms of adhesive. It will be recognized by those
of skill in the art, however, that this is not the only such means
and that numerous equivalent attachment means are possible.
Each flap 28 may also have its own adhesive patch 40.
Preferentially, such adhesive 40 is associated with the face of the
flap 28 which contacts the undergarment of the wearer. That is,
each flap has a garment contacting face or portion that contacts
the wearer's undergarments in use. As will be understood from the
description herein, the garment contacting face of the flap 28 is
the portion that contacts the outside of the wearer's undergarment
when in an in-use folded condition. Also the central portion of the
sanitary napkin 20 intermediate the flaps 28 may have adhesive 42
associated with the area of the central portion of the sanitary
napkin 20 which contacts the undergarment of the wearer.
Preferentially such adhesive 42 is joined to the outwardly oriented
face of the backsheet 24.
The sanitary napkin 20 has a longitudinal centerline 34 which
conceptually divides the sanitary napkin 20 into two substantially
symmetrically opposite halves. As used herein the term
"longitudinal" refers to an imaginary line, axis or direction of
the sanitary napkin 20, which line, axis or direction is typically
centered between the longitudinal side margins 30 of the napkin and
is generally aligned with the vertical plane which bisects a
standing wearer into left and right body halves. The term "lateral"
refers to an imaginary line, axis or direction generally orthogonal
the longitudinal direction, within the plane of the sanitary napkin
20, and is generally sideways aligned relative to the wearer.
Examining the components in more detail with continuing reference
to FIG. 1, the topsheet 22 is the component of the garment which is
oriented towards and contacts the body of the wearer, and receives
bodily discharges. The topsheet 22 is liquid pervious and should be
flexible and nonirritating to the skin. As used herein the term
"flexible" refers to materials which are compliant and readily
conform to the shape of the body or respond by easily deforming in
the presence of external forces. Preferably the topsheet 22 is not
noisy, to provide discretion for the wearer. The topsheet 22 should
be sanitary, clean in appearance and somewhat opaque to hide the
bodily discharges collected in and absorbed by the core 26.
The topsheet 22 should further exhibit good strikethrough and rewet
characteristics, permitting bodily discharges to rapidly penetrate
the topsheet 22 to the core 26, but not flow back through the
topsheet 22 to the skin of the wearer. Suitable topsheets 22 may be
made from nonwoven materials or perforated polyolefinic films. The
topsheet 22 has a plurality of apertures to permit liquids
deposited thereon to pass through to the core 26. Such apertures
may, but need not, be present in the flaps 28. An apertured
polyolefinic film topsheet 22 having about 5 to about 60 percent
open area, typically about 25 percent open area, and a thickness of
about 0.01 to about 0.05 millimeters prior to aperturing and about
0.46 to about 0.51 millimeters after aperturing is suitable.
If desired, the topsheet 22 may be sprayed with a surfactant to
enhance fluid penetration to the core 26. The surfactant is
typically nonionic and should be nonirritating to the skin. A
surfactant density of about 0.01 milligrams per square centimeter
of topsheet 22 areas is suit-able. A suitable surfactant is sold by
the Glyco Chemical, Inc. of Greenwich, Conn. as Pegosperse 200
ML.
A particularly suitable topsheet 22 may be made in accordance with
U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,314 issued Aug. 3, 1982 to Radel et al. and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,045 issued Jul. 31, 1984 to Ahr et al., which
patents are incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of
disclosing particularly preferred executions of liquid pervious
topsheets. A topsheet 22 made of model X-3265 or model P1552
apertured formed film sold by the Tredegar, of Terre Haute, Ind.
has been found to work well.
The backsheet 24 may be any flexible, liquid resistant, preferably
liquid impervious material, such as a polyolefinic film. The
backsheet 24 prevents discharges collected by and contained in the
sanitary napkin 20, and particularly discharges absorbed by the
core 26, from escaping the sanitary napkin 20 and soiling the
clothing and bedding of the wearer. Preferably the backsheet 24 is
not noisy, to provide discretion for the wearer.
The backsheet 24 may also be impervious to malodorous gases
generated by absorbed bodily discharges, so that the malodors do
not escape and become noticed by the wearer. A low density
polyethylene backsheet 24 about 0.01 to about 0.05 millimeters in
thickness, preferably about 0.02 millimeters in thickness, has been
found to work well. A polyethylene film, such as is sold by
Tredegar, under model XP-39385 has been found particularly well
suited for the backsheet 24. The backsheet 24 may also permit gases
or vapors to pass through it (i.e. be breathable) while still
resisting the passage of liquids therethrough.
Further, the backsheet 24 may be made of a soft cloth-like material
which is hydrophobic relative to the topsheet 22, e.g., a polyester
or polyolefinic fiber backsheet 24 works well. A particularly
preferred soft, clothlike backsheet 24 material is a laminate of a
polyester non-woven material lamina and a film such as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,180 issued to Wnuk.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the backsheet 24 is
slightly larger than the topsheet 22 and the intermediate absorbent
core 26. In such an embodiment, the top-sheet 22 and intermediate
absorbent core 26 are peripherally circumscribed by the backsheet
24 which has a radial margin of about 0.5 centimeters to about 1.5
centimeters, preferably about 1.0 centimeter, from the side margins
of the topsheet 22. This geometry provides a marginal area of
protection should the core 26 become overloaded or the sanitary
napkin 20 otherwise fail. In such an embodiment the backsheet 24
and flaps 28 are preferably unitary and coextensive. The topsheet
22 and the backsheet 24 are preferentially peripherally joined
using known techniques, either entirely so that the entire
perimeter of the sanitary napkin 20 is circumscribed by such
joinder or are partially peripherally joined at the perimeter. The
term "joined" refers to the condition where a first member or
component is affixed, or connected, to a second member or component
either directly; or indirectly, where the first member or component
is affixed, or connected, to an intermediate member or component
which in turn is affixed, or connected, to the second member or
component. The joined condition between the first member, or
component, and the second member, or component, is intended to
remain for the life of the sanitary napkin 20. Conversely,
components are considered "removably affixed" if the components may
be detached and separated from each other without destruction or
unintended gross deformation of either.
Any joined arrangement that provides for capture of the core 26
intermediate the topsheet 22 and the backsheet 24 and a unitary
assembly is suitable. Such an assembly has two mutually opposed
major faces, one defined by the topsheet 22 and one defined by the
backsheet 24.
The outwardly oriented face of the backsheet 24 may further
comprise means 42 for attaching the sanitary napkin 20 to the
undergarment of the wearer. Pressure sensitive adhesive 42 has been
commonly found to work well for this purpose. Preferably a strip of
longitudinally oriented adhesive 42 provides good protection
against either the front or the back of the sanitary napkin 20
becoming detached from the wearer's undergarment. The adhesive
strip 42 may be continuous or intermittent. A particularly
preferred arrangement utilizes two longitudinally oriented strips
42, one on each side of the longitudinal centerline 34. Of course,
any of the alternative means of attachment discussed above may also
be utilized. Any of the desired means such as adhesive 42 may be
applied in any desired pattern.
The absorbent core 26 is the means for collecting and containing
bodily discharges, particularly menses, deposited thereon or which
otherwise traverses through the liquid permeable topsheet 22. The
core 26 is the component of the sanitary napkin 20 which receives
and retains the bodily discharges. The core 26 is conformable and
nonirritating to the skin. The core 26 may be rectangular or
hourglass shaped. The core 26 preferably has two opposed faces, one
oriented towards the backsheet 24 and one oriented towards the
topsheet 22.
Suitable materials for the core 26 include combinations of airfelt,
such as cellulose wadding, and fibrated communition pulp; layers of
tissue paper; and absorbent gelling materials. If a tissue paper
core 26 is selected, tissue paper made in accordance with U.S. Pat.
No. 4,191,609 issued Mar. 4, 1980 to Trokhan and incorporated
herein by reference to show a particularly preferred tissue paper
core construction for the sanitary napkin 20 described herein. If
it is desired to incorporate absorbent gelling materials into the
core 26 of the sanitary napkin 20, absorbent gelling materials made
in accordance with U.S. Pat. Re. No. 32,649 issued Apr. 19, 1988 to
Brandt et al., and incorporated herein by reference for showing
particularly preferred absorbent gelling materials, are suitable. A
suitable laminate of absorbent gelling materials and tissue may be
purchased from the Grain Processing Corporation of Muscatine, Iowa
under Model Number L535.
The core 26 need not have a total absorbent capacity much greater
than the total amount of bodily discharges to be absorbed. The core
26 is preferably narrow and thin, to be comfortable to the wearer.
For the embodiment described herein the capacity of the core 26
should be at least about 2 grams of 0.9 percent saline solution.
Suitable saline solution is sold by Travenol Laboratories of
Deerfield, Ill.
The core 26 should be sized to register with the topsheet 22 and
backsheet 24. The core 26 is preferably interposed between the
topsheet 22 and backsheet 24 to prevent the absorbent material of
the core 26 from shredding or becoming detached while the sanitary
napkin 20 is worn and to ensure proper containment of bodily
discharges. This arrangement also helps to provide for a unitary
assembly. The sanitary napkin 20 preferably has a caliper of less
than about 4 millimeters and more preferably less than about 2
millimeters, as measured with a comparator gage having an
approximately 80.0 gram test weight, an approximately 10.0 gram
comparator foot having a diameter of about 2.54 centimeters and a
contact surface area of approximately 5.1 square centimeters. Also,
the sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention should have a
topsheet 22 surface area of at least about 100 square centimeters
to prevent discharged fluids from missing the target area.
The core 26 is preferentially joined to the topsheet 22, and may be
joined to the backsheet 24. Joining is preferentially accomplished
by adhesive bonding the core 26 to the topsheet 22 or the backsheet
24. Such adhesive (not shown) may be applied in any suitable spray
pattern, such as a spiral or longitudinally oriented beads. The
adhesive should be surfactant resistant and of low pressure
sensitivity, so as not to stick to the skin of the wearer.
The sanitary napkin 20 also comprises a flap 28 extending from a
longitudinal side margin 30 of the sanitary napkin 20, and
preferably one flap 28 extending from each longitudinal side margin
30 of the sanitary napkin 20. The flaps 28 have a proximal end 36
which is typically coincident with the juncture of attachment of
the flap 28 to the longitudinal side margin 30 of the sanitary
napkin 20 or, alternatively, the proximal end 36 of the flap 28 may
be joined to the sanitary napkin 20 at any other location
juxtaposed with the longitudinal side margin 30. The flaps 28
extend laterally outwardly from the sanitary napkin 20 and
terminate at a distal end 38 which represents the point of the flap
28 furthest from the longitudinal axis 34 of the sanitary napkin
20. The flaps 28 maybe of any shape desired, with one preferred
shape being shown in FIG. 1.
The flaps 28 are laterally outboard of the longitudinal centerline
34 and central portion of the sanitary napkin 20. As used herein
the phrase "central portion" refers to that part of the sanitary
napkin 20 intermediate, particularly laterally intermediate, and
defined by the proximal ends 36 of the flaps 28.
The flaps 28 may be comprised of an integral and contiguous
extension of the topsheet 22, the backsheet 24,or a laminate of
both. Alternatively, the flaps 28 may be made of a separate and
independent piece of material joined to the longitudinal side
margin 30 of the sanitary napkin 20. Each flap 28 has one face
generally coextensive of the topsheet 22 and a mutually opposed
face generally coextensive of the backsheet 24. Faces are
considered to be coextensive of the topsheet 22 or backsheet 24 if
a line having a lateral component can be drawn from the central
portion of the topsheet 22 or the backsheet 24 respectively,
crosses a side margin 30 at the perimeter of the sanitary napkin
20, and intercepts such face.
The flaps 28 preferably have a means 40 for attaching one face of
the flap 28 to the wearer's undergarment or to the other flap 28.
The attachment means may be pressure sensitive adhesive 40. Any of
the attachment mechanisms described above as suitable for the
attachment means of the sanitary napkin 20 are also suitable for
the flaps 28. Such means include the attachment mechanisms
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,662,758 and 6,099,940.
If pressure sensitive adhesive 40 is selected, it should be
disposed on the face of the flap 28 generally coextensive of the
backsheet 24 so that when the flaps 28 are wrapped around the
crotch portion of the wearer's undergarment, the adhesive 40 will
contact the outside of the wearer's undergarment. A generally
rectangular patch of adhesive 40 on each flap 28, about 25
millimeters.times.20 millimeters in size works well. Any other
pattern is also suitable for the adhesive pattern on the flaps 28.
For example, stripes or other intermittent patterns of adhesive are
suitable. There may be a gap between the attachment means on the
flaps 28 and any which may be provided on the backsheet 24 of the
main body portion of the sanitary napkin 20. Alternatively, such
attachment mechanism (such as an adhesive) may be continuous from
the flaps to the backsheet of the main body portion without a gap.
Suitable pressure sensitive adhesive 40 is sold by the Anchor
Continental, Inc., 3 Sigma Division of Covington, Ohio as 0.02
millimeter pass with Century Adhesive A305-4.
For packaging, including shipment and sale, the flaps 28 are folded
over the topsheet 22 so that the flaps 28 are in a disposition
having the topsheet facing relationship of FIGS. 1-5. The flaps 28
are considered to be in a topsheet facing relationship if a line
generally perpendicular to the plane of the sanitary napkin 20 is
drawn outwardly from the topsheet 22 and intercepts either face of
the flap 28. The flaps 28 are preferably folded about the
longitudinal lines generally coincident the proximal edges 36 of
the flaps 28, so that the maximum area of the topsheet 22 may be
covered by the flaps 28. This provides a larger area of the
topsheet 22 which is protectively overlaid by the flaps 28, and
particularly the area of the topsheet 22 which is generally
registered with the wearer's vagina, so that a sanitary and clean
appearance and condition of the topsheet 22 is maintained. It is
not necessary that the flaps 28 be folded about the line generally
coincident the proximal edge 36, that the flaps 28 be in contacting
relationship with the topsheet 22, or that no other folds between
the distal and proximal ends 36 and 38 of the flaps 28 occur. It is
only necessary that the flaps 28 face towards and cover the
topsheet 22, help prevent outside contamination from readily
soiling the portion of the topsheet 22 covered by the flaps 28 and
the flaps 28 are manipulable to be readily unfolded by the wearer
as the sanitary napkin 20 is installed in her undergarment.
Folding the flaps 28 in the configuration of FIG. 1 exposes the
patch 40 of adhesive on the face of the flaps 28 generally
coextensive of the backsheet 24. To prevent contamination and
blocking of this patch 40, the adhesive patch 40 of each flap 28
may be covered with a separate and dedicated piece of release strip
46.
The various embodiments of release strips 46 described herein may
be advantageously made of kraft paper, calendared paper, or any
other materials well known in the art for such purpose. Machine
glazed or machine finished paper having a basis weight of about
40.7.times.10.sup.3 kilograms per square meter (25 pounds/3,000
square feet) works well. However, the invention disclosed and
claimed herein is by no means limited to any particular material
selection.
Preferably the face of the release strip 46 which contacts the
adhesive patches 40 has a release coating, such as silicone, to
easily facilitate the removal of the release strip 46 from the
flaps 28. Suitable release coatings are marketed by Akrosil of
Menasha, Wis. as Silox 4R/0 and as Silox C1S.
Furthermore, the sanitary napkin 20 is preferably provided with a
means for maintaining the flaps 28 in the topsheet facing
relationship of FIG. 1 during packaging and prior to first use by
the wearer. As used herein the "first use by the wearer" refers to
the initial installation of the sanitary napkin 20 into the
undergarment, so that the sanitary napkin 20 may begin to perform
the intended function of collecting vaginal discharges.
One suitable means (not shown) for maintaining the topsheet facing
relationship comprises a small patch of adhesive disposed on the
face of each flap 28 generally co-extensive of the topsheet 22. By
contacting this face of the flap 28 against the topsheet 22, the
adhesive will adhere the flap 28 to the outwardly oriented face of
the topsheet 22 until the flap 28 is detached by the wearer or
premature, undesired separation occurs. Any adhesive FDA approved
for contact with human skin is suitable. The adhesive may be either
hot melt or preferably water based latex. Suitable adhesives are
sold by the Findley Adhesives Company of Columbus, Ohio under the
Model Nos. L8082-02 and H2128-01.
Referring to FIG. 2, a more preferred means for maintaining the
flaps 28 in the topsheet facing relationship is a unitary release
strip 46' adhered to each patch 40 of adhesive on the flaps 28 and
bridging both flaps 28. A component, such as a release strip 46',
is considered "unitary" if it cannot be divided or disassembled
without tearing or unintended gross separation. It is not necessary
that a unitary component be made of a single material but, rather
that such component cannot disassembled from and subsequently
reassembled into the original configuration. Components are
considered to be "bridged" if they do not overlap and are
connectively spanned by an independent component.
This unitary arrangement provides the advantage that the flaps 28
cannot be unfolded from the topsheet-facing relationship without
detaching the unitary release strip 46' and, concomitantly
advantageously, the adhesive patches 40 of the flaps 28 are
covered.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the release strip 46', or at least
the portion of the release strip 46' which bridges the flaps 28, is
longitudinally bounded by the flaps 28. As used herein, a component
or portion thereof is considered to be "longitudinally bounded" by
the flaps 28 if such component or portion does not extend
longitudinally outboard, i.e., away from the lateral centerline, of
the flaps 28. By being longitudinally bounded by the flaps 28, the
release strip 46' is prevented from having substantial contact with
the topsheet 22 where adhesive attachment means are typically not
disposed, and an economically advantageous conservation of material
occurs.
It is important that the release strip 46' be conveniently and
easily manipulated by the wearer. This is because the sanitary
napkin 20 is frequently attached to the crotch of the wearer's
undergarment when the release strip 46' is to be removed. With a
sanitary napkin 20 having a unitary release strip 46' according to
this invention, the wearer can see the flaps 28 in the advantageous
topsheet facing relationship of FIGS. 1 and 2, can see the release
strip 46' while it is being removed and can further see the flaps
28 and adhesive patches 40 thereon while they are being manipulated
into the wearing arrangement to which the wearer is accustomed. The
wearer attaches the central adhesive 42 to the crotch of her
undergarment, peels off the release strip 46', typically starting
at either lateral edge, folds the flaps 28 around the edges of the
crotch of the undergarment, and attaches the flaps 28 to the
outside of the undergarment using the flap adhesive 40.
The sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention is packaged with a
wipe article, preferably a cleansing wipe 80. According to the
present invention, the wipe article is associated with the means
for maintaining the flaps in a topsheet facing relationship. In
this manner, as shown below, the wipe article is provided with
minimal additional material components, and with virtually no
inconvenience to the user.
The cleansing wipe 80 is a hygienic wipe that may be used by the
wearer to clean menses and/or other body exudates from her body.
The cleaning of menses is particularly important because when
menses leaves the wearer's body, it tends to smear over the
pudendal region of the wearer's body and be retained on the
wearer's skin and pubic hair. Furthermore, the menses often dries
on the skin and in the pubic hair. This makes later cleansing
difficult.
The cleansing wipe 80 of the present invention is beneficially
associated with the means for means for maintaining the flaps 28 in
the topsheet facing relationship. In one embodiment, the wipe 80 is
enclosed in a pouch 70, a portion of which comprises the unitary
release strip 46'. In another embodiment, the wipe pouch itself,
whether or not considered to by "unitary" also serves as the
release strip.
The convenient inclusion of a cleansing wipe with the individual
sanitary napkin in the manner described herein provides several
advantages. The wipe 80 of the present invention is provided in
such a way as to minimize the amount of extra material required to
product the sanitary napkin/wipe combination. A portion of the wipe
pouch, as more fully described below, can serve as the means for
maintaining the flaps 28 in the topsheet facing relationship (i.e.,
a portion thereof also being the release strip) thereby minimizing
additional material components to the sanitary napkin product.
Also, due to the placement of the wipe and its containment pouch,
the user does little different in the way of installing the
sanitary napkin, whether or not the user actually uses the wipe. In
fact, the user may choose not to use the wipe, and does nothing
different in otherwise using the sanitary napkin. That is, as shown
below, the wipe packaging, i.e., pouch 70, can be simply removed as
the release strip 46' would otherwise be removed.
The wipe 80 provides for physical cleansing. This increases
physical comfort as well as psychological comfort by providing a
feeling of cleanliness. The wipe may also be used to reduce soiling
of the wearer's panties. One mechanism that causes panty soiling is
the transfer of menses from soiled body surfaces to the wearer's
panties. In addition, the use of the wipe may also provide a
reduction in the odor associated with menstruation.
The cleansing wipe 80 is preferably a wet wipe (that is, liquid
containing) that is provided with an aqueous-based solution. The
wipe 80 is preferably comprised of a nonwoven fabric impregnated
with an aqueous cleaning mixture. The nonwoven fabric may be
comprised of synthetic fibers or natural fibers (such as
cellulose). The wipe 80 can, for instance, be made of a nonwoven
material similar to toilet tissue or facial tissue. Less preferred
embodiments might include dry wipes or wipes containing non-aqueous
cleaning solutions such as mineral oils, and the emollient
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,243, issued to Allen on Nov. 6,
1984. The cleaning mixture may include surfactants, alcohols,
perfumes, antimicrobial agents, and pH buffers.
The wipe 80 may also contain substances such as silicones that tend
to inhibit menses from adhering to the wearer's skin and pubic
hair. The cleaning mixture may also contain skin conditioning
substances similar to those used in hand lotions, or any other
substances known in the art for inclusion in cleansing wipes. The
cleansing wipe 80 is preferably both capable of being flushed in a
toilet (i.e., it is "flushable"), and disintegrates sufficiently
when flushed in a toilet and when being transported in the sewer
system so it does not plug any element of a sewer system.
In preferred embodiments, any wrapping material associated with the
wipe is also flushable and disintegrates. Wrapping materials that
meet such criteria include, but are not limited to silicone-treated
polyvinyl alcohol films, or films coated with a polyvinyl alcohol,
tissue coated or impregnated with polyvinyl alcohol, or similar or
other water soluble materials. One material that may be suitable
for use as both a cleansing wipe, and as a wrapping for the same is
the hydro-entangled fabric described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,421,
issued to Manning, et al. on Jul. 5, 1988.
The size of the cleansing wipe 80 can vary. The cleansing wipe 80
is preferably greater than or equal to about 4 square inches (about
25 square centimeters), and more preferably, is greater than or
equal to about 9 square inches (about 50 square centimeters) in
size. Preferably, the cleansing wipe 80 is less than or equal to
about 225 square inches (about 1,450 square centimeters) in size.
Even more preferably, the cleansing wipe 80 is between about 16
square inches (about 100 square centimeters) and about 50 square
inches (about 320 square centimeters) in size. Most preferably, the
wipe 80 is about 35 square inches (about 225 square centimeters) in
size. The wipe is folded in any known and convenient manner desired
to be disposed in the pouch 70 as described below.
The wipe 80 is packaged in a manner that is convenient for the
wearer to use during the installation of a sanitary napkin in her
undergarment. That is, to access and use the wipe of the present
invention requires little more effort than is already being
expended by the user. This is important because the user is often
concerned with speed, ease of use, and discreteness during the
changing of a sanitary napkin. For example, the user may be in a
location, such as a public restroom stall, that makes movement
difficult, particularly while trying to maintain cleanliness. At
these times, the user does not want to have to manage complicated
or inconvenient steps to access or use a wipe product while at the
same time installing a sanitary napkin.
Therefore, to use a sanitary napkin of the present invention, the
user would typically remove release strip 43 (or release liner 48
in the alternative embodiment described below with reference to
FIGS. 6-9) and attach central adhesive 42 to the crotch of her
undergarment. She would then remove pouch 70 with or without also
removing release liner 46'. Depending on the particular
configuration, as described herein, the release liner may or may
not be an element wholly separate from pouch 70. The user now folds
the flaps around the side edges of the crotch portion of her
undergarment, and, if adhesive means are present, attaches flaps to
the underside of her undergarment. She then, if desired, uses the
wipe provided by opening the pouch, using the wipe, and disposing
of the wipe and package appropriately.
In this manner, it is evident that the user does little different
from the ordinary routine of placing a sanitary napkin in her
undergarment. She does not have to manipulate a wipe article from
an unassociated, separate package. Moreover, she does not have to
make any extra effort to remove an unwanted wipe, since she would
be removing the release strip anyway.
The drawing figures show several nonlimiting alternative ways of
associating the wipe article with the means for maintaining said
flaps in a topsheet facing relationship.
One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3, which
is a cross-section of the sanitary napkin of FIG. 2. In this
embodiment, wipe 80 is packaged in a pouch 70, which is preferably
hermetically sealed by known methods. Pouch 70 is formed by sealing
the edges of a pouch cover 72 to the release strip 46' to define a
containment space in which the wipe 80 is disposed. Thus, in this
embodiment, the pouch 70 comprises the release strip 46'.
The pouch cover 72 can be made of any suitable material, such as
polymer films, film laminates, paper, or nonwovens, and, as
discussed above, is preferably flushable. If the wipe 80 is a wet
wipe, i.e., a pre-moistened wipe, the pouch cover 72 (and pouch 70)
must be liquid impervious. The wipe may be a dry wipe, in which
case the pouch cover can be made of a fluid pervious material such
as a soft, pliable nonwoven web material.
The pouch cover 72 can be joined to the release strip 46' in any
suitable manner, such as by adhesive, thermal bonding, or
ultrasonic bonding. The pouch cover 72 and release strip 46' can be
made into pouch 70 in a separate unit operation and subsequently
attached by known methods as a release strip to sanitary napkin 20.
However, the wipe 80 and pouch cover 72 (or pouch 70 as disclosed
below) may be added by known methods in a separate manufacturing
step after the release strip 46' is placed on sanitary napkin 20.
In one less preferred embodiment, the pouch 70 could be adhesively
affixed by hand to a sanitary napkin.
Pouch cover 72 can be provided with a grip tab (not shown) to aid
in gripping the cover for removal. In use, the user may remove
pouch cover 72, use or remove the wipe, and then remove release
strip 46'. Alternatively, the user may choose to first remove the
pouch 70 entirely, including the release strip 46', then open the
pouch by separating the pouch cover 72 from the release strip
46'.
In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the pouch 70 is formed of a
first pouch material 74 and a second pouch material 75 which
preferably have substantially the same dimensions and are joined
about their respective peripheral edges by suitable methods, such
as by adhesive bonding. The pouch 70 is joined by suitable methods,
such as by adhesive 73 to the release strip 46'. The first and
second pouch materials 74, 75 may be identical. For example they
may both be a polymer film, a metal foil, or a metalized polymer
film. Likewise, they may be a soft, pliable nonwoven, or a
nonwoven/film laminate. The first and second pouch materials may be
different materials, but in any combination it is necessary that
they be joinable about their respective peripheries, preferably to
form a hermetic seal.
In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4, it is not necessary that the
pouch 70 be easily removable from release strip 46'. In use, the
user would remove the pouch 70, which could then beneficially
affect removal of the release strip 46'. The user could then, if
desired, open pouch 70 with release strip still joined. The user
could then simply dispose of pouch 70 and release strip 46' as a
unit. However, in another embodiment, the joining means, such as
adhesive 73 between pouch 70 and release strip 46' can have less
peel strength than that of the adhesive between release strip 46'
and backsheet 24, such that the user could easily first remove
pouch 70, use the enclosed wipe 80, and then remove release strip
46'.
In any of the embodiments, the pouch 70 configuration may be any
desired shape. For example, the pouch 70 may be a square,
rectangle, oval, circle, or any other desired shape in plan view.
The pouch may be a simple "wrapper" type design, or could have an
opening which is covered with a cover attached with adhesive. One
execution may include a wrapper with a scored or die cut line of
weakness in the top surface of the pouch 70, this line of weakness
may allow the pouch 70 to be opened easily with a tab, easy peel
label or any other conventional opening mechanism. A "Dry-edge"
sticker mechanism may also be used to facilitate easy opening of
the pouch 70 if desired.
In another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the pouch 70 is formed
having two discrete containment spaces, each having a wipe 80
contained therein. In this embodiment, the pouch 70 is formed from
three materials: a first pouch material 74; as second pouch
material 75, and a third pouch material 76 disposed between the
first and second pouch materials. Each of the first, second and
third pouch materials can have similar dimensions and can be joined
about their respective peripheral edges. As shown in FIG. 5, such
an arrangement forms a pouch having two compartments, or
containment spaces, into which a wipe 80 can be disposed. In a
preferred embodiment, the region bounded by first pouch material 74
and third pouch material 76 comprises a wet wipe 82, and the region
bounded by the third pouch material 76 and the second pouch
material 75 comprises a dry wipe 84. In use, the user can first
access and use the wet wipe 82, and thereafter, if desired, access
and use the dry wipe 84 provided.
As discussed above, for each embodiment wherein the pouch 70 does
not comprise a portion of release tape 46', it is not critical
whether or not the user first removes the pouch 70 and then the
release tape 46', or removes the release tape 46' together with the
pouch 70.
In one embodiment, it may be desirable to eliminate the attachment
means 46 associated with the flaps 28. That is, in certain less
preferred embodiments, a sanitary napkin may have flaps 28 with no
attachment adhesive on the flaps for attaching to the wearer's
undergarments. Nevertheless, the benefits of the present invention
can be realized by packaging the sanitary wipe with the flaps 28
folded in a topsheet facing relationship, and providing a wipe
article as discussed above. In this configuration, the pouch 70
would be affixed by suitable means, including autogenously, to
flaps 28. By "autogenously" means without the benefit of external
means such as adhesives and the like. One example of autogenously
bonding is exhibited when two nonwoven webs are pressed together
such that a certain amount of fiber entanglement between the two
facilitates a light bond. In a preferred execution of this
embodiment, pouch 70 would be releasably affixed to flaps 28. As
used herein, "releasably affixed" refers to the condition of two or
more components which may be attached and separated without
destruction of or undue distortion to either component. For
example, pouch 70 can be affixed by a relatively small amount of
adhesive which permits the pouch to be removed without damaging the
flap material.
Therefore, in one embodiment, the invention can be described as a
sanitary napkin having a pair of flaps, each flap extending from a
longitudinal side margin of the sanitary napkin, and means for
maintaining the flaps in a topsheet facing relationship, the means
having a wipe article associated therewith. The flaps preferably
have attachment means associated with a garment facing portion. The
means for maintaining the flaps in a topsheet facing relationship
preferably comprises a release strip that bridges at least the
distal ends of the flaps. The wipe article is preferably comprises
an enclosed pouch, with the wipe article disposed therein. The wipe
article can be a wet wipe or a dry wipe.
The sanitary napkin of the present invention having a wipe article
associated therewith may be provided as an individually wrapped
absorbent article. In general such articles are described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,462,166, issued Oct. 31, 1995 to Minton et al., which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference, and as well in the
aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,230 issued Oct. 29, 1996 to
Fisher et al. Particular embodiments are described below with
reference to FIGS. 6-8.
As shown in FIG. 6, the sanitary napkin 20 is superimposed on a
releasable wrapper (or "release paper wrap") 48. (The releasable
wrapper need not be paper, however.) The releasable wrapper 48
underlays and is releasably affixed to the outwardly oriented face
of the backsheet 24. In the embodiment shown, the releasable
wrapper 48 is slightly larger than the central portion of the
sanitary napkin 20 as it is defined by the longitudinal and lateral
side margins 30 and 32.
The releasable wrapper 48 contacts the adhesive 42 of the backsheet
24, and if desired, the adhesive 40 of the flaps 28, to help
prevent contamination of such adhesive 40 prior to first use by the
wearer. Also, the releasable wrapper 48 prevents the otherwise
exposed adhesive 42 from sticking to other parts of the sanitary
napkin 20 when the napkin is inwardly trifolded.
The releasable wrapper 48 has a perimeter defined by longitudinal
edges 48c and lateral edges 48d. Preferably, the lateral edges of
the releasable wrapper 48 are juxtaposed with the respective
lateral side margins 30 of the sanitary napkin 20. This arrangement
provides a releasable wrapper 48 having sufficient longitudinal
extent to conceal and to protect the sanitary napkin 20 in the
later described folded configurations.
The wrapper 48 has opposed faces. One face is an inwardly oriented
face 48a. The inwardly oriented face of the wrapper 48 is oriented
towards the adhesive 42 and the outwardly oriented face of the
backsheet 24. The other face 48b is an outwardly oriented face. It
is opposed to the inwardly oriented face and oriented away from the
sanitary napkin 20.
Preferably, the inwardly oriented face is release coated, to
facilitate easy and convenient manipulation of the releasable
wrapper 48, and particularly separation from the adhesive 40 and
42. Silicone release coatings, as are well known in the art, have
been found to work well. The releasable wrapper 48 may be zone
coated with the release coating only in the areas of the adhesive
40 and 42, or may be entirely release coated throughout the
inwardly oriented face as desired. The releasable wrapper 48 may be
made of films, kraft paper, calendared paper, or other materials as
are well known in the art without departure from the spirit and
scope of the claimed invention.
One suitable releasable wrapper 48 is made of machine glazed or
machine finished paper having a basis weight of about
40.7.times.10.sup.3 kilograms per square meter (25 pounds per 3,000
square feet). The inwardly oriented face of the wrapper may be
coated with a release coating such as silicone. Suitable release
coated wrapper materials are marketed by Akrosilof Menasha, Wis. as
Silox 4R/O and Silox C1S.
The releasable wrapper 48 may be made of one or more sheets of
material. The wrapper 48 may, for instance, comprise a two
component arrangement comprising the wrapper 48 as described herein
that is combined with a conventional release strip that covers the
adhesive 42 attached to the inwardly oriented face of the wrapper
48. Preferably, however, the releasable wrapper 48 comprises a
single sheet that both covers the adhesive 42 and serves as a
package for the sanitary napkin 20.
With continuing reference to FIG. 7, it can be seen that in one
embodiment, the releasable wrapper 48 wraps at least one, and
preferably each, longitudinal side margin 30 of the sanitary napkin
20 in a C-fold 50. As used herein, a "C-fold" refers to the
configuration of a component which is folded over itself to provide
a double thickness and may have a foreign component interposed
between the layers of the folded component.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, it is preferred that the sanitary napkin
20 and releasable wrapper 48 be equivalently and symmetrically
disposed and folded about the longitudinal centerline 34. In the
C-folded arrangement of FIG. 7, the entire backsheet 24 is covered
by the releasable wrapper 48 and a portion of the topsheet 22
juxtaposed with the longitudinal side margins 30 are also covered
by the releasable wrapper 48.
As used herein, "releasable" refers to the condition where a first
component may be separated from a second component at least once
without causing destruction or undue distortion of either
component. The illustrated arrangement provides the advantage that
one entire major face, particularly the face associated with the
backsheet 24, is protected by the releasable wrapper 48. The
longitudinal side margins 30 of the sanitary napkin 20 are likewise
protected. Additionally, a portion of the topsheet 22 is protected
by the releasable wrapper 48. Further, in this arrangement no
significant portion of the releasable wrapper 48 extends laterally
outboard of the sanitary napkin 20, obviating the need for a bulky
package, or a region of the releasable wrapper 48 to be dedicated
for sealing of the package.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the sanitary napkin 20 and releasable
wrapper 48 may be folded about two spaced-apart laterally oriented
fold lines. As used herein, the phrase "spaced-apart laterally
oriented fold lines" refers to longitudinally offset lines,
generally parallel the lateral direction, and about which the
sanitary napkin 20 and releasable wrapper 48 are commonly
folded.
Folding the sanitary napkin 20 about the spaced apart laterally
oriented fold lines produces a folded arrangement defining three
trisections 51 and 52, a central tri-section 51 intermediate and
bounded by two outboard trisections 52. The outboard trisections 52
may be more specifically described as an inner-outboard trisection
52a and an outer-outboard trisection 52b, or more simply as the
first and third trisections.
The central trisection 51, thus comprises the second trisection. As
used herein, inner and outer outboard trisections 52 are described
relative to the central trisection 51 when the sanitary napkin 20
and releasable wrapper 48 are in the folded arrangement of FIG. 9.
The inner-outboard trisection 52a is generally adjacent the central
trisection 51 and intermediate such central trisection 51 and the
outer-out-board trisection 52b when folded. Conversely, the
outer-outboard trisection 52b is relatively further from the
central trisection 51 due to the interposition of inner-out-board
trisection 52a.
In the folded arrangement, as shown in FIG. 9, the package defines
two mutually opposed major surfaces, one defined by the
outer-outboard trisection 52b, and one defined by the central
trisection 51. The arrangement of FIG. 9 produces a packaged
sanitary napkin 20 having an e-fold with a releasable wrapper 48
having a corresponding e-fold. The releasable wrapper 48 is
preferably of sufficient longitudinal dimension to overlie one
outboard trisection 52 and the central trisection 51. More
preferably, the releasable wrapper 48 is of sufficient longitudinal
dimension to overlie all three trisections 51 and 52, so that no
adhesive 40 or 42 is exposed.
Referring back to FIG. 6, the releasable wrapper 48 may further
comprise a means for maintaining the sanitary napkin 20 and
releasable wrapper 48 in the aforementioned folded arrangement.
Suitable means for maintaining the folded arrangement include hook
and loop mechanical fasteners, such as are sold under the trademark
VELCRO mechanical fasteners; heat and/or pressure seals; and,
adhesives in the form of tabs, or adhesive 56 juxtaposed with the
longitudinal edge of the releasable wrapper 48. The adhesive 56 may
be placed on the longitudinal edge of the releasable wrapper which
is folded over so that it overlays and faces outwardly from the
topsheet 22. In one execution, the adhesive 56 may be applied to
the outboard trisections 52 so that when the inner-out-board
trisection 52a is folded over the central trisection 51 such
trisections 51 and 52a are releasably affixed to each other and
adhesive is juxtaposed with the outer-out-board trisection 52b so
that it may be releasably affixed to the inner-outboard trisection
52a.
Alternatively, the adhesive 56 may be applied to the central and
outer-out-board trisections 51 and 52b. The adhesive 56 may be
applied in a continuous strip (as shown), in an intermittent strip,
or may be a single spot. It is not critical which form the adhesive
56 is applied, only that it have sufficient peel strength to
maintain the folded arrangement until it is desired to conveniently
open the sanitary napkin 20 and releasable wrapper 56 for the first
use by the wearer.
In one variation, the adhesive 56 may further comprise and be
disposed on a tab 55 longitudinally extending beyond the lateral
edge of the outer-outboard trisection 52b. The adhesive 56 of the
tab 55 longitudinally beyond such lateral edge is affixed to the
exposed face of the inner-outboard trisection 52a.
As with the sanitary napkin described with reference to FIGS. 1-5,
the individually wrapped absorbent article described also has a
wipe article associated therewith, disposed in pouch 70 which is
joined to, or at least partially serves as, release strip 46'. The
embodiment shown in cross-section in FIG. 7, for example,
corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Without repeating
the description provided above, the individually wrapped embodiment
of the present invention can have the same pouch and wipe article
configurations as the embodiments described with reference to FIGS.
3-5.
As shown in FIG. 7, release paper 46' bridges at least the distal
ends of wings 28 and partially covers the wing adhesive 40.
However, the release paper does not extend onto, or cover any
portion of releasable wrapper 48. Therefore, releasable wrapper 48
can be unfolded and removed without disturbing the release paper
46' or the wipe article associated therewith. In use, therefore,
the wearer can remove releasable wrapper 48, place the sanitary
napkin in the crotch portion of her undergarment, and then proceed
to remove the release liner and/or the wipe article.
The wipe article for the individually wrapped embodiment of the
present invention preferably comprises cleansing wipe 80 as
described above. Likewise, the pouch 70 comprises materials and
configurations as described above. Moreover, as described above
with respect to the sanitary napkin of FIGS. 1-5, in a less
preferred embodiment, the wing adhesive 40 of the individually
wrapped embodiment may be omitted.
Thus, in one embodiment, the invention can be conveniently
described as an individually packaged sanitary napkin having a pair
of flaps folded and maintained in a topsheet facing relationship by
means having a wipe article associated therewith. A releasable
wrapper serves as a release paper for an adhesive fastener disposed
on the backsheet, which wrapper can be folded about the
longitudinal edges of the sanitary napkin. The entire package of
sanitary napkin and releasable wrapper can be tri-folded and
affixed into a convenient, relatively thin, single-use package.
In any of the embodiments described above, the release means for
the flaps 28 could be directly attached to the releasable wrapper
48 in any suitable configuration: Examples of such configurations
are described further in U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,376.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in
the art that various other changes and modifications can be made
without departing from the scope of the invention. For example,
various indicia, including logos, printed matter, and embossed
designs could be included on the pouch 70 cover disclosed herein.
Also the pouch could have mult-purpose wipes, such as a wipe for
cleaning, and a wipe for fragrance, each provided in a
suitably-configured pouch 70.
* * * * *